As Winter’s Eve has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19, Lincoln Square BID is excited about a brand new, choreographed lighting display called Tumbling Brights, a procession of ten lighted spirit figures that are currently illuminating the Broadway Malls from Columbus Circle up to 70th Street as symbols of hope, resilience and community solidarity this holiday season.
Holiday light installations along Broadway, from Columbus Circle to West 70th Street. Photo: Lee Uehara
Somersaulting their way through the neighborhood, each ethereal figure is positioned at different angles in a coordinated acrobatic display, converging in Dante Park across from Lincoln Center at the Statue of Dante Alighieri.
The grounds of Dante Park are delicately illuminated as well, and the Statue has a light projection with a constellation of stars warmly welcoming residents and visitors to the neighborhood. The full lighting installation will be on display through February 28, 2021.
In lieu of Winter’s Eve being cancelled, Tumbling Brights will be on display for three months. Photo: Lee Uehara
The installation was designed by New York-based Tillett Lighting Design Associates – a brother and sister team with Seth and Linnaea Tillett.
The Tillets drew their inspiration for this spirited installation from the Lincoln Square neighborhood itself as a center for arts and culture. Seth Tillett is a theater and augmented reality designer whose industry has been essentially shuttered since the beginning of the public health crisis.
Seth Tillett, half of sibling lighting designer duo in front of one of their holiday light installations. Photo: Lee Uehara
Inspired by the neighborhood, the lighting design also represents a show of solidarity for the arts and culture community and the hope that the lights of Lincoln Square’s performing arts culture will return stronger and brighter than ever before. These bright figures are also a tribute to the vibrancy and strength of all New Yorkers, including the business community, which stands ready to safely welcome guests to the neighborhood over the holidays in compliance with local and state social distancing guidelines.
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Photo: Lee Uehara
Photo: Lee Uehara
“The holidays for the Lincoln Square neighborhood this year are about hope, hope for a healthy holiday season and hope for a better tomorrow,” said Monica Blum, President of the Lincoln Square BID. “We hope this new, unique lighting display will lift the spirits of residents and visitors to our neighborhood and serve as a source of strength and inspiration to help us all through these challenging times.”
“We felt that a flow of figures uptown from Columbus Circle and downtown from 70th Street would deliver a dynamic gathering of spirits to Dante Park. While best known for The Inferno, Dante’s most luminous words are reserved for Paradise and the ceaselessly revolving lights of the heavens. Emerging from darkness into the light became a key theme of this installation, and we are proud to support the Lincoln Square BID’s message of hope and resilience,” said Designer Seth Tillett.
Linnaea Tillett Lighting Design Associates’ NYC projects include the newly opened Pier 26 at Hudson River Park, the Battery Bosque and the forthcoming Morgan Library and Museum Garden.
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I was wondering about that, thanks for the recon.